The highly-anticipated top of the table clash in the MFA Women’s League between Birkirkara and Mġarr United provided no goals in what has been a pulsating encounter between the two title challengers.
A draw from which fellow league rivals Swieqi United benefitted as they secured their third consecutive win of the season, closing the gap with both Birkirkara and Mġarr who remain joint-leaders of the league with 10 points. The Oranges follow in third with nine and with a game in hand.
The head to head between Birkirkara and Mġarr was also a clash between current national team goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer, defending the Greens’ goal and long-serving custodian Tonina Dimech, Malta’s first ever international goalkeeper back in 2003. Dimech is currently serving between Birkirkara’s sticks following Janice Xuereb’s injury in September.
Both goalkeepers were called into action a number of times, keeping their opponents at bay with their interventions throughout the 90 minutes.
Birkirkara created a flurry of chances in the opening 45 minutes through the likes of Alishia Sultana, Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia and young player Lexine Farrugia but could not break the deadlock.
Mġarr, on their part, had a close-range effort by skipper Brenda Borg blocked by Dimech.
After the change of ends, chances were at a premium as the game became more feisty. The biggest opportunities in the second half dropped on Brenda Borg for Mġarr who once again was denied by Dimech and on Birkirkara’s Said whose long-range freekick went just wide over the bar in the closing stages.
In what has been a low-scoring Matchday, all five goals of the week were recorded by Swieqi in their 5-0 win over Kirkop United.
Dorianne Theuma opened the score as she has now scored five goals in this season. Jade Flask and Emma Xuereb also found the net while midfielder Kayleigh Chetcuti grabbed a brace.
In the closing stages of the game, youth player Iulia Mifsud was handed her senior league debut as she came on for Swieqi.
Together with Birkirkara and Mġarr, Swieqi are yet to concede a goal but they boast the best attacking record with 24 goals in three games so far.
In the other game of the week, San Ġwann recorded their maiden point in the senior women’s league after their 0-0 draw with Mtarfa, who have also secured their first point of the season.
In this game, San Ġwann deployed Sarah Cioffi in the second half who has just joined the club from Kirkop.
STANDINGS (after 4 matches played)
Birkirkara – 10 points
Mġarr United – 10 points
Swieqi United – 9 points (after 3 games played)
Raiders Lija – 3 points (after 3 games played)
San Ġwann – 1 point (after 3 games played)
Mtarfa – 0 points
Kirkop United – 0 points (after 3 games played)
